Contents of the DJLBRIEF.DOC file

INTRODUCTION

This package demonstrates one method of implementing the (fabulous) Briefprogram editor for use on Paradox scripts. Though Brief isn'tspecifically tailored to Paradox, it works quite nicely with Paradox andprovides excellent structured programming support. With the presentpackage, one gains the following advantages over implementing Brief as thestandard Paradox editor:

a. The Brief/Paradox multiple-file environment: Brief can be restarted on its previous environment, with several files intact, using a single Paradox keystroke. There is no need to re-specify the files.

b. Non-interfering file environments: The Brief environment for Paradox will not interfere with the Brief environment outside of Paradox. In other words, one can edit a set of files outside Paradox, enter Paradox and edit a completely different set of files, leave Paradox and the outside set of files will again be in place, available at a Dos keystroke. Once again inside Paradox, the second file set is available at a Paradox keystroke, and so on.

c. Edit-test cycle: The latest script file being edited inside Paradox can be invoked at a keystroke, with or without the debugger. Thus, the edit-test cycle can be operated with a minimum of keystrokes.

If you are already using Brief, there's no need to learn a differenteditor for Paradox. If you aren't, consider it, especially if you haveextensive program editing requirements outside of Paradox.

PACKAGE DESCRIPTION

DJLBrief.Lib contains the necessary compiled procedures. Place it in your working directory.

DJLBrief.Sc is the source for the scripts. To recompile and recreate DJLBrief.Lib, play DJLBrief.Sc. Otherwise, it is not needed.

InitBrie.Sc is a sample file of commands for your Init.Sc. They establish alt-keys to invoke Brief from within Paradox as follows:

alt-n: start Brief with a new file, solicited from the user. alt-b: start Brief with the former set of files. alt-t: run the file most recently alt-n'ed, possibly from a former session. alt-d: same as alt-t, but with the debugger invoked.

Obviously, you can tailor these as you like.

P2Brief.Bat is a Dos .Bat file to retrieve and restore the Brief environment for Paradox execution, so the Brief environments outside and inside Paradox do not interfere with each other. Incorporate this into your invocation .Bat for Paradox. If you don't need this feature, this .Bat file is unnecessary.